A 9-month-old female Jewish baby, whose parents were born in Poland, is seen by her pediatrician because of neurologic problems, including generalized paralysis and blindness. The pediatrician should suspect that the child is suffering from

Question

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The neurologic symptoms of generalized paralysis and blindness in a 9-month-old Jewish baby with parents of Polish descent are classic signs of Tay-Sachs disease, a genetic disorder that affects the nervous system. Spina bifida is a congenital disorder involving the spinal cord, not the brain. Cranial nerve X disorder refers to a specific nerve involved in controlling the heart, lungs, and digestive system, and would not explain the other symptoms. Fabry's disease and Refsum's disease are rare genetic disorders that can cause neurological symptoms, but they are not commonly associated with paralysis and blindness in infants.

A 9-Month-Old Female Jewish Baby, Whose Parents Were Born in Poland